Hatch Archives

April 18, 2024

Hatch, the esteemed accelerator/incubator, and Orion City, the foremost IT park, have unveiled an innovative digital platform, signalling a transformative shift in Sri Lanka’s tech ecosystem and business operations. This innovative app is set to streamline access to essential services and facilities across three strategic locations: Hatch Works in Colombo 1, Orion Nest at Orion City in Colombo 09, and the upcoming Orion City Colombo in Colombo 3. Promising a seamless experience for entrepreneurs and businesses alike, this collaboration will provide unprecedented opportunities for growth and collaboration in Sri Lanka’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Hatch, located in a meticulously restored building dating back to 1910, serves as the hub of entrepreneurship in Colombo, with over 1,000 coworking members and 700 start-ups in its network. Orion City, located in Colombo 09, is renowned for its premium workspaces tailored to the needs of over 40 organizations, offering amenities such as various meeting spaces, leisure areas, and dining facilities. The upcoming expansion to Orion City Colombo in Colombo 3 will further enhance accessibility to resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs, solidifying its position as a hub of innovation in the bustling business district.

The collaboration empowers tenants to effortlessly book meeting spaces across these strategic locations, tapping into exclusive discounts tailored for Hatch and Orion Nest tenants.

Mr. Jeevan Gnanam, CEO of Orion City, commented, “We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with Hatch. With the launch of this cutting-edge app, we aim to provide local and international start-ups with premium workspaces, reflecting our commitment to nurturing innovation.”

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s tech evolution, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and growth opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses.

March 27, 2024

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Hatch together with the Singapore Sri Lanka Business Association, supported by USAID Catalyze and Sri Lankan Airlines, showcased the innovative ventures of five remarkable Sri Lankan women in Singapore.

In a world where only 2% of venture capital funding finds its way to female-founded businesses, this event brought hope, opportunity, and recognition to this group of dynamic female entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka.

The event was not just about pitching ideas; it was a platform for empowering change. With renowned judges, including the world’s first Sri Lankan Michelin-starred Chef Rishi Naleendra, and seasoned investors like Dominic Schacher, Ailynn Seah, and Cameron Richards, the stage was set for a transformative experience.

Each entrepreneur captivated the audience with their unique offerings and inspiring stories. One investor made an instant offer to one of the founders for her compelling presentation, reflecting the potential these ventures hold.

Let’s take a closer look at the finalists:

Lak Nature, founded by Lakmini Weerakkody, is a testament to sustainability and community empowerment. Offering a range of 100% natural, vegan, and preservative-free food products, Lak Nature not only caters to health-conscious consumers but also supports small-scale women farmers, fostering positive social impact.

Miris by IslandMom, the brainchild of Shivani A. Tyronne, celebrates the rich flavors of Sri Lankan chillies. With its exquisite range of hot sauces and chilli jams, Miris by IslandMom delights taste buds while championing natural ingredients and authentic culinary experiences.

Nevindaree Premarathne’s founder of Makers Global is revolutionizing STEM education for children. Through engaging DIY kits and resources, Makers Global nurtures the next generation of innovators, making learning fun and accessible.

Achinthya Neligama’s journey with Wellness Cultz stems from her own gluten intolerance. Specializing in gluten-free baking ingredients, Wellness Cultz caters to a growing market, offering quality products and personalized service.

True By Tina is pioneering eco-friendly baby care in Sri Lanka. Tina Lobo’s innovative silicone tableware and teethers not only promote sustainability but also forge partnerships with hospitals, creating a positive impact and strategic business alliances.

Two common threads run through these founders: Firstly, they are all women, and secondly, it is that each of these businesses carries a profound sense of purpose. They are all striving to make a direct impact on Sri Lanka.

From engaging smallholder farmer communities to offering skills and employment opportunities for women, these businesses serve as catalysts for transformation. Together, the founders are actively addressing critical issues such as poverty, hunger, and income inequality, while advocating for regenerative farming practices and empowering women in agriculture.

These entrepreneurs not only presented compelling business models but also highlighted the transformative power of diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship. Their success stories serve as hope, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.

As we celebrate these trailblazing women and their ventures, let us remember that investing in diversity isn’t just good for individuals and communities; it’s a catalyst for economic growth and innovation, enriching markets, and societies alike.

January 18, 2024

Sarvodaya – a leading grassroots organization, is partnering with Hatch – Sri Lanka’s largest Innovation & Entrepreneurship development organization, to launch the “GoviLab” AgriTech Accelerator. This is an integral part of Sri Lanka’s Inclusive Digital Agriculture Transformation (IDAT) strategy, a one-of-a-kind national initiative brought about by the collaborative efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with support from PwC India.

The Accelerator aims to identify and prioritize key challenges within Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector like ensuring food security and address them through the empowerment of smallholder farmers by cultivating a digitized agricultural ecosystem that contributes significantly to the IDAT project.

“The GoviLab Accelerator aligns with our focused vertical for AgriTech and Sustainable Innovation – Hatch Green. We are hoping to identify and accelerate technologies that are capable of solving challenges of smallholder farmers across Sri Lanka to empower them and bring disruptive Innovation to the Agriculture sector ” said Mevan Peiris, Chief Program Officer, Hatch.

Hatch’s commitment to fostering innovation extends beyond its 65,000 sq ft coworking space in Fort, home to a dynamic community of over 1,000 members. Through its program vertical, Hatch has successfully implemented 18 Business Incubator/Accelerator programs for a range of partners ranging from international development agencies to charitable organizations, local government bodies and leading corporations and has engaged with 700 startups in Sri Lanka.

“Sarvodaya’s experience of over 65 years, engaging and empowering over 15,000 grassroots communities across the country is complemented by Hatch’s expertise. This partnership provides a unique synergy that hopes to bring tangible benefits to Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector” said Dr Vinya Ariyaratne, President of Sarvodaya.

The primary objective of the GoviLab AgriTech Accelerator is to uplift Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry by adopting a holistic approach. This involves not only identifying and supporting startups with innovative solutions but also working with various stakeholders, including other international development agencies, private sector and the government to scale the country’s agri-technology and startup ecosystem to support smallholder farmers, thus creating sustainable and impactful changes that resonate throughout the agriculture value chain. The first phase of the program will involve stakeholder consultations and focus group discussion to identify specific challenges faced by smallholder farmers and how these converge with government priorities.

The first cohort of the “GoviLab” AgriTech Accelerator will select 10 startups through a competitive application process. Over a 6-month acceleration period, selected startups will undergo a comprehensive scale-up process, complemented by a capacity-building grant.

This transformative program seeks applications from startups that have developed and tested technological solutions, specifically aimed at bolstering Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry. The GoviLab AgriTech Accelerator presents an exceptional opportunity for startups to actively contribute to the country’s agricultural transformation. By addressing critical challenges faced by the farming community, participants in this program become integral players in a collective effort to drive positive change in Sri Lanka’s agricultural landscape.

The application process is now open, and interested startups can submit their proposals for consideration. For more information please contact lalindri@hatch.lk

Join us in driving positive change in Sri Lanka’s agriculture landscape through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of smallholder farmers and contribute to the overall development of the nation.

September 5, 2023

Hemas x Hatch: Slingshot program to support 75 startups in the next three years

September 5, 2023. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Hemas Group, a diversified corporate with focused interest in Consumer Brands, Healthcare and Mobility, is partnering with Hatch to deliver a corporate innovation program as a part of their 75-year celebrations. This collaboration aligns to Hemas Group’s focus to explore ‘Open Innovation’ as a part of their corporate journey.

Speaking on the partnership, Group CEO of Hemas Holdings, Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson said, “Through this partnership, we see significant potential for Sri Lankan startups, with the business community coming forward to create a new ecosystem by providing access to essential infrastructure, knowledge, and capital. As we mark 75 years of enriching our communities, we are committed to invest in the country’s future through this initiative and reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower families.”

Speaking more about Hatch’s vision, the Co-Founder and CEO Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam explained, “We believe that entrepreneurs are catalysts for economic development and that collaboration drives innovation. Hatch provides a comprehensive solution for startups through our bespoke programs, extensive mentorship support, and like-minded community”.

As an initial step of the ‘Hemas x Hatch: Slingshot’ program, a call for applications was extended for post-revenue startups operating in selected scalable industries such as Education & EdTech, FMCG, Healthcare, and Logistics. The program kick started with the selection of 25 post-revenue startups who were invited to participate in a two-day intense boot-camp on 26^th and 27^th of August 2023.

During the programme, entrepreneurs were provided a high-quality immersive learning experience by industry professionals who provided in-depth perspectives into some of the fundamental topics in a startup journey. This included Fine tuning your Value Proposition, Creating a scalable Business Model, Fundraising 101, International Growth Strategies and Navigating the journey of an entrepreneur. This comprehensive approach ensured that startups not only solidified their core business concepts but also gained the essential tools for expansion and growth.

At the end of the Bootcamp, the 25 startups had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges, out of which 8 have now been selected to advance to the next stage of the ‘Hemas x Hatch Slingshot Accelerator’ Program.

Over the next few months, the corporate accelerator implemented by Hatch, leveraging the extensive domain expertise and resources of the Hemas Group aims to refine the concepts ideas of the startups, broaden their perspectives, and provide them with potentially game-changing opportunities that facilitate their transition from startups to scale up.

March 23, 2023

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Hatch, Sri Lanka’s leading startup hub partnered with the US Department of State to implement AccelerateHer, a bespoke accelerator program for budding female entrepreneurs. Applications are now open for its second cycle.

AccelerateHer is designed to help female founders grow their businesses, upskill, and gain access to funding and networks that will allow them to scale and compete more effectively in the global marketplace. The program is 100% free of charge and does not ask for equity in the participant’s business.

Applicants selected to be part of AccelerateHer will get capacity funding of up to Rs. 1.5 million, curated workshops focused on strategy, operations, business development, product design, tech, growth, PR, brand, and talent to address the knowledge gap, access to a global network of mentors, investors, and female founder networks, and a strong alumni network and lifetime relationships.

Commenting on the program, Ruvanara Tillekeratne, Program Manager of AccelerateHer said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the US Department of State on this initiative. AccelerateHer is a fantastic opportunity for female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to gain the skills, knowledge, and networks they need to take their businesses to the next level. We need more women in leadership positions in Sri Lanka, and entrepreneurship is a powerful way to achieve this. By supporting female entrepreneurs, we can help to create a more diverse, equitable, and prosperous society.”

The program duration is from April to July 2023, with a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the participants.

According to the Sri Lanka Development Update published by the World Bank in April 2021, women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka face a number of challenges, including limited access to finance, lack of business skills, and social norms that discourage women from starting businesses. AccelerateHer aims to address this imbalance by providing female entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and networks they need to succeed. Applications are open to all female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka who are looking to scale their businesses.

Applications for AccelerateHer are open now and close on March 31, 2023. To register or for more information, visit www.accelerateher.asia or follow @accelerateherlk on Instagram.

February 14, 2023

Hatch has joined forces with Draper Startup House to unveil Colombo’s first-ever co-living space. The space marks the first phase of Hatch’s strategic partnership with Draper Startup House, and was officially opened by Silicon Valley billionaire investor Tim Draper during his recent visit to Sri Lanka. Through this initiative, Hatch serves to encourage digital nomad entrepreneurs to collaborate with local startups by providing the necessary infrastructure and a supportive community for them to connect and engage.

The co-living space is located at Orion City in Colombo 09 – the heart of the best and brightest of Sri Lanka’s IT/BPO Industry. Known as Colombo’s first IT park, Orion City houses a diverse mix of Nasdaq-listed global companies and up-and-coming local startups. With the addition of the co-living space the business center now aims to provide a space conducive to community creation, where digital nomads can engage with founders within the Sri Lankan startup ecosystem. Since its inception, Hatch has been at the forefront of providing incubation and acceleration programs for startups and has earned recognition for its award-winning co-working space. The co-living space is an extension of these efforts, with the goal of positioning Colombo, and Sri Lanka, as a strategic location for digital nomads to get inspired, find success, and support the economy.

“We seek to redefine the traditional digital nomad by attracting entrepreneurs who build businesses out of Sri Lanka using local talent and their international contacts for distribution and sales,” said Jeevan Gnanam, co-founder of Hatch, referring to ‘traditional digital nomads’ as those who would typically only contribute to the local economy by bringing in foreign exchange and supporting local businesses in the short term. “Our co-living space will encourage collaboration between digital nomads and local startups/entrepreneurs to make their contributions to the local economy more sustainable and impactful, all while supporting the existing infrastructure in place from coworking spaces to startup accelerators.”

In 2021, Hatch launched Sri Lanka’s first-ever digital nomad ambassador program, the NOMAD4LK competition. Run in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka, ENPACT e.V. in Berlin, Germany, and the Colombo Embassy in Berlin, the competition aimed to initiate engagement between digital nomads visiting Colombo and the local startup ecosystem. The winner of the competition, Matt de Caussin, an American entrepreneur residing in Germany, traveled to Sri Lanka amidst challenging economic times. Despite facing fuel shortages, electricity outages, and uncertain travel schedules, de Caussin chose to stay and was able to build a supportive community that provided him with the necessary support and direction to manage his travels. This program served to demonstrate the potential for collaboration when the right infrastructure is in place—potential Hatch is poised to tap into.

Sri Lanka is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and low cost of living, earning it the No. 2 spot in Club Med’s “Top Countries in the World to Live as a Digital Nomad” in 2021. Hatch sees opportunity amidst crisis and seeks to help realize a robust economy for Sri Lanka by playing to its strengths as a global tourist destination. Beyond Hatch X Draper Startup House, Hatch’s efforts to build a sustainable startup ecosystem in Colombo will pave the way for more sustainable economic development for Sri Lanka.

February 1, 2023

Award-winning startup ecosystem builder Hatch entered a strategic partnership with Draper Startup House, a global network of spaces connected to resources for entrepreneurs. Hatch shares a vision with Draper Startup House for Sri Lanka and has come onboard to support Hatch’s “Sri Lanka: From Troubled Nation to Startup Nation” initiative which seeks to change the narrative that currently clouds the media. Both parties believe in the country’s immense future potential and hope to leverage the partnership to attract and retain high-quality talent, while linking Sri Lankan startups to a global network of investors and enablers.

Draper Startup House was founded as “Tribe Theory” by Vikram Bharati in Singapore back in March of 2018. The foundational concept was to develop spaces for digital nomads to access relaxed yet productive workspaces. In 2019, Tribe Theory joined the Draper ecosystem and rebranded as “Draper Startup House,” described as a “hostel with a twist.” Today, the spaces welcome and empower entrepreneurs, startup teams, remote workers and diverse-minded travelers to connect them with technology venture-building programs, business services, Draper University and the Draper Venture Network.

As part of the partnership, billionaire investor Tim Draper has arrived in Sri Lanka to engage with key stakeholders in government and the local startup ecosystem. During his visit, he will drive discussions focused on supporting founders and local startups as an integral catalyst of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and future development. Furthermore, Draper will be filming an episode of his TV show “Meet the Drapers,” providing a platform for local entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas directly to Tim Draper in addition to achieving global exposure to over 9 million viewers worldwide.

Draper will also headline a panel discussion alongside Sonia Hirdaramani and Mahela Jayawardene, moderated by Nathan Sivagananathan during his visit, followed by a short segment by Tim Draper addressing the audience. The panel discussion is titled “From Troubled Nation to Startup Nation,” and will be prefaced by an introductory note by Jeevan Gnanam along the same theme.

“At Hatch, our belief that entrepreneurs are the catalysts of economic development is steadfast and has been instrumental in establishing this partnership and bringing a Silicon Valley investor of Tim’s caliber to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan entrepreneurs will be able to collaborate with a global network of mentors, investors and peers to drive innovation and accelerate growth across all aspects of building world-class businesses. It’s important to us that we create a platform for young entrepreneurs through Hatch regardless of their personal backgrounds. We are also hoping that Tim’s visit and this partnership will be an indicator to the global business community that Sri Lanka holds great unrealised potential that will be unlocked in the medium to long term and deliver value locally, regionally and internationally,” commented Jeevan Gnanam, Co-founder of Hatch.

Core beliefs including entrepreneurship as an economic catalyst, collaboration as a driver of innovation and equal opportunity for all have driven the team at Hatch over the years to deliver a blended model of startup community, incubators, accelerators, access to capital and mentorship to the community of startups that are being nurtured by the Hatch project. Having commenced with just 28 startups, Hatch has grown to a community of over 500 startups and 60,000 square feet of infrastructure over four years. 37% of the startups incubated by Hatch have been accelerated through startup programs and 33% of them are female founder-led startups. In the coming years, Hatch envisions an economy fueled by purpose-driven innovators that are supported through its thriving startup ecosystem to establish Sri Lanka as a startup nation.

The unique geographical and commercial potential of Sri Lanka has been a point of emphasis for Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem and Hatch has been successful in propelling the value proposition to global stakeholder groups. In further alignment, Tim Draper during his visit will officially open the doors to Hatch X Draper Startup House in Colombo. The space is intended to be a co-living space developed with the objective of supporting the startup ecosystem infrastructure in Sri Lanka. Through this initiative alongside other past ventures, Hatch aims to position Sri Lanka as an idyllic tropical island location for digital nomads, with a strategic geographic vantage point to connect, inspire, and build successful businesses.

“The emphasis on the importance of startups as the backbone of a resilient economy is becoming clearer as Sri Lanka navigates its worst economic climate in history, and Hatch is well-aligned to support the mission of nurturing local startups to reach their global potential. We are confident in our ability to create meaningful value for local startups and drive Sri Lanka’s journey towards establishing itself as a startup nation through the thriving ecosystem of Hatch. The partnership with Draper Startup House and Tim’s visit to Sri Lanka are early steps in things to come and the journey we will undertake towards a startup nation,” commented Nathan Sivagananathan, Co-founder of Hatch.

January 25, 2023

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In a one of a kind collaboration; Hatch, the award winning co-working space, start-up incubator and accelerator is partnering with HDFC Bank as their official banker, to give its community of startups access to an exclusive loan facility, the benefits of which will support these startups in strategically growing their business in the face of Sri Lanka’s challenging economic climate.

Accounting for 90% of all businesses, providing 45% of employment and contributing towards 52% of Sri Lanka’s GDP – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy. With a large majority of the local population living in rural areas where MSME’s are a major source of employment and income generation, they are critical to alleviating poverty. Supporting the survival and growth of local MSME’s must be a strategic priority in Sri Lanka’s recovery plan to ensure growth and development of the local economy and society.

Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank is a specialized bank registered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. HDFC is a semi-governmental institution listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the General Treasury holds 51% shareholding through the National Housing Development Authority. HDFC Bank is the Premier financial partner for low and middle income individuals in ensuring sustainable housing and living standards with an island wide network of 39 branches. Whilst Housing Finance is the core business, HDFC Bank goes beyond housing rudiments, helping homeowners with household requirements, education and Development Finance, financing for micro and small entrepreneurs, Leasing and Gold loans intended to support and uplift Sri Lankans in leading a better life.

Hatch has run several Incubator and Accelerator programs since its inception in late 2018 and has many more in the pipeline for 2023 aimed at driving local entrepreneurship across the island. These programs are aligned with Hatch’s belief that entrepreneurs are the catalyst for economic development, collaboration drives innovation and that everyone, regardless of background, should be given the opportunity to create a meaningful impact in the world. Starting with just 28 start-ups, in four years Hatch has supported over 500 start-ups. Of these, they have incubated and accelerated 37% of them through programs and 33% of the founders are women-led or focused businesses.

Programs addressing barriers faced by women in entrepreneurship through mentorship, business development, and investor matching have always been a key pillar for Hatch, starting with the Kickass program in 2020. In September 2021 the AccelerateHer program was launched and is now one of Hatch’s core programs. As part of the outreach done for AccelerateHer, the Hatch team along with subject matter experts traveled from Colombo, to Galle, Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna to run immersive 3-day boot camps covering key areas in business and entrepreneurship. Hatch programs aimed at developing female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka have produced over 50 alumni from across the country who are now part of the Hatch ecosystem and will therefore have access to this loan facility.

This collaboration between Hatch and HDFC allows both parties to leverage their existing strengths to support and develop the local Sri Lankan economy by driving entrepreneurship.

December 12, 2022

Hatch, the centre of gravity for all things startup in Sri Lanka has scored another first, welcoming on board Mountain Lion Ventures – a Sri Lanka Focused build up & scale up investment vehicle, as an investor into the Hatch Fund to provide startups with seed funding and bridge capital. This is a real testament to the visibility Hatch has into the local startup ecosystem and their ability to identify globally scalable startups through the multitude of incubator and accelerator programs they run.

As an established ecosystem enabler, Hatch identified funding and market access as the most common barriers for local entrepreneurs, particularly female entrepreneurs looking to ideate, prototype and scale their startups. Mountain Lion ventures, a globally established venture capital firm investing into the Hatch fund helps to overcome both barriers faced by Sri Lankan startups.

The Hatch fund constitutes an ESG fund – HERCapital and MoonShot ventures. The former being Sri Lanka’s first Gender Smart Venture Capital fund and the latter, being a tech fund to encourage disruptive innovations in products, technology and business models.

Under the leadership of Chairman, Advisory Board – Dr Cornelius Boersch, General Partner – Asad Sultan, General Partner – Love Yadav and Venture Partner – Jorge Perez Garcia, Mountain Lion Ventures has successfully launched locally developed tech ventures geared for a modern market across digital transformation and clean tech space

Mountain Lion Group has been responsible for scaling and empowering Sri Lanka’s Start-Up market aiding in the growth of businesses such as Sling Mobility (a 360° electric mobility platform providing retail logistics solution), LIWE Communities (Sri Lanka’s first comprehensive cloud-based smart communities management platform), Infragist (a cutting-edge full stack tech services company with capabilities across the Metaverse, Cyber Security, Blockchain, Machine Learning and AI Solutions), and Mercato (a B2B single-platform procurement system).

Speaking with the General Partner, Mountain Lion Group – Love Yadav, stated: “Sri Lanka is at the cusp of the next gen digital revolution, which is expected to result in maximum stakeholder value created by innovations and ideas in this space. Hatch shares a similar vision with Mountain Lion Group and it is further aligned with this round of investment commitment. The scope of this investment has the forecasted potential for future growth.”

Since its inception, Hatch has placed a strong emphasis on running Incubator and Accelerator programs which empower female entrepreneurs and encourage disruptive technological innovations. The Hatch fund is designed to further enhance the support it provides in these key areas. Commenting on this, Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam, Co-founder of Hatch stated; Our team has several years of experience in supporting startups both at ideation and growth stages across multiple industries. This experience and expertise are the reason we are what we are today. I am confident that this investment into the Hatch fund will help us further improve our service offerings to the startup ecosystem and help take these startups to the global arena.

One of Hatch’s core programs is AccelerateHer, where the Hatch team along with subject matter experts travelled across the Island to run immersive 3-day boot camps covering key areas in business and entrepreneurship supporting over 140 female entrepreneurs over the last year. The AccelerateHer program has provided Hatch with a high calibre funnel of female led businesses ready to receive funding to take them to the global stage.

Hatch has also pioneered the facilitation of open innovation in Sri Lanka. Its recent partnership with IFS, a global tech firm to launch Sri Lanka’s first AI-Machine learning Incubator is an example of developing local tech talent by providing them with the opportunity to identify, test, and solve real-world problems.

In addition to its programs, Hatch also facilitates regular Web 3 meetups, with its community generating many firsts in the Web 3 and Artificial Intelligence space showing that the community is focused on solutions for the new economy and building a new way forward – the MoonShot ventures fund will further facilitate the development of disruptive technologies applicable to the global economy.

Hatch offers a unique support platform that enables entrepreneurs to achieve their vision and grow their businesses. With over 800 members, the Hatch ecosystem comprises over 100 startups, 60,000 sq. ft of space, over 60 mentors who are experts in their fields, over 100 program graduates, 40+ local and global partnerships, and much more.

Even in uncertain times, Hatch offers hope for budding Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs to not just excel within the country but internationally as well.

Sri Lanka is a multi-faceted country with a world class human resource pool. Despite the hardships, the startup community of Sri Lanka has made giant strides, it is a true story of grit, and perseverance which is changing Sri Lanka from a troubled nation to a startup nation.

November 22, 2022

Hatch brings to you an all female vendor Christmas Market on Saturday, 3rd of December 2022, 10am onwards at the Arcade (Independence) premises. Meet the female alumni of Hatch incubator and accelerator programs as they come together to deliver a festive experience.

Being a female entrepreneur herself, Brindha Selvadurai – Co-founder of Hatch is passionate about empowering other females on their entrepreneurial journeys. Programs addressing barriers faced by women in entrepreneurship through mentorship, business development, and investor matching have always been a key pillar for Hatch, starting with the Kickass program in 2020. In September 2021 the AccelerateHer program was launched in partnership with the US Department of State and is now one of Hatch’s core programs, having reached over 140 female entrepreneurs across the country. As part of the program, the Hatch team along with subject matter experts traveled from Colombo, to Galle, Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna to run immersive 3-day bootcamps covering key areas in business and entrepreneurship. The AccelerateHer Christmas Pop Up Market will be your chance to meet and support some of these inspiring female entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges in business literacy and social barriers to bring their ideas to life.

From limited edition, sustainably produced jewelry, organic cosmetics and inclusive clothing lines to delicious food items, eco-friendly children’s toys and much, much more – there promises to be something for everyone on your Christmas shopping list! In addition to over 20 vendors, there will be a variety of workshops running throughout the day including ‘business 101 clinics’ aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs, ‘Maker’ workshops aimed at those looking to nurture their inner creativity and a ‘kids corner’ to entertain and educate the little ones as you shop!

Save the date: Saturday, 3rd December at Independence Arcade – AccelerateHer Christmas Market – Support an incredible group of female entrepreneurs and hear their stories – it promises to be a day of fun, learning and of course Christmas shopping for the whole family!

Older Posts

Hatch and Orion City Unveil Groundbreaking Collaboration Through One App, Revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s Tech Ecosystem

The future of Sri Lanka shines brighter, and it’s powered by women

Hatch and Sarvodaya launch “GoviLab” AgriTech Accelerator as part of National Agriculture Transformation Strategy

Hemas Partners with Hatch to Support Sri Lankan Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Hatch Opens Applications for AccelerateHer 2.0: An Accelerator Program for Budding Female Entrepreneurs from Across the Island

Hatch in partnership with Draper Startup House open Colombo’s first Co-Living Space to drive collaboration between digital nomad entrepreneurs and local startups

Hatch Enters Partnership with Draper Startup House to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Position as a Startup Nation

Hatch partners with HDFC Bank to provide an exclusive credit facility for its community of startups

Hatch Fund Secures Investment From Mountain Lion Ventures

Supporting Female Founders this Festive season